Full form of GRE, ACT, GMAT, IELTS, SAT, TOEFL

Full form of GRE

GRE or Graduate Record exam is a standardized test conducted by ETS (Educational Testing Services). Most of the top graduate level schools for master’s degree programs accept this exam. Over the years, it has seen many changes. In its newest version, it is called the GRE revised General Test.

According to ETS, the GRE aims to measure verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, analytical writing, and critical thinking skills that have been acquired over a long period of learning.

The content of the GRE includes certain specific algebra, geometry, arithmetic, and vocabulary. The GRE General Test is offered as a computer-based exam administered at Prometric testing centers.

GRE Exam Eligibility

The only eligibility requirement for GRE is the document required to prove your identity. In India, you’ll need a valid passport. You’ll have to get your original passport (not photocopies) which clearly shows your full name, photograph and signature.

No other documentation (like birth certificate, international driving license etc.) can be used as an alternate identity proof. They are very strict about this.

Apart from this eligibility requirement, ETS does not set any age, qualification, timing related pre-requisites. However, there will be a range of eligibility criteria set by universities that accept GRE scores. For each of their programs, they may have a minimum age, experience and qualification related filters.

Sections

Number of Questions

Allotted Time

Analytical Writing

· Analyze an Issue task

· Analyze an Argument task

30 minutes per task

Verbal Reasoning

(2 Sections)

20 questions per section

30 minutes per section

Quantitative Reasoning

(2 Sections)

20 questions per section

35 minutes per section

Unscored

Will vary

Will Vary

Research

Will vary

Will Vary

Full form of ACT

ACT or American College Testing is the leading US college admissions test measuring what you learn in high school to determine your academic readiness for college. Candidates are required to go through four distinct tests: English, Math, Reading, and Science are given below.

Fast Facts related to ACT exam pattern 2018

Total Duration

2 hours and 55 minutes

Exam Format

Two formats- ACT (no writing)

ACT (with writing)

Number of Questions

215 or 216 (One extra essay question for ACT with writing)

Type of Questions

Multiple-choice questions (MCQ)

Testing Subjects

English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science

Other information

Additional 40 minutes is given to candidates who opt for ACT (with optional essay writing)

Full form of GMAT

The Graduate Management Admission Test or GMAT is a computer-adaptive test. It is intended to assess a student’s analytical, writing, quantitative, verbal and reading skills in formal or standard written English. It is for use in admission to a graduate management program, such as an MBA and Masters in Finance related courses.

Computer adaptive test

The GMAT exam is a computer adaptive test and not a computer-based test. Here the candidate gets one question at a time. And depending on the accuracy of the previous answer, the difficulty level of the next question will be ascertained. The average scores required for universities abroad varies; top-tier universities require at least 710, while middle-tier universities accept 600.

For Executive MBA

GMAC has recently introduced a new Mini GMAT called Executive Assessment exam for Executive MBA. Specially designed for EMBA applicants, this exam is of considerably shorter duration. It is meant to test analytical and logical thinking of the applicant, which is more suited for the Executive MBA course.

GMAT Fees

The application fee for GMAT 2018 is $250, which roughly converts to Rs 15,000-16,000 approximately. In case the applicant wants to get his centre changed or reschedule the test then he/she will be charged $50 extra.

GMAT Paper-Pattern

The GMAT exam pattern consists of mainly four sections. These sections test the candidate’s’ abilities on various parameters, such as Writing, Reasoning, Verbal and Quantitative skills. The GMAT exam is conducted in a time span of 3 hours and 30 minutes. GMAT scores are given with an increment of 10 points for example 550, 560, 570 etc.

Update: The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) recently announced the upcoming launch of Select Section Order, a new feature that will provide candidates the flexibility to customize their GMAT experience by choosing the section order in which they feel most comfortable taking the exam. GMAC believes this new exam feature has offered greater control and flexibility to a candidate.

Full form of IELTS

IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is the world’s most popular English language test. More than 3 million IELTS tests are taken each year. Qualifying IELTS opens doors – it can help a student live, study and work in countries like the USA, UK, Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand etc.

More than 10,000 organizations in 140 countries accept IELTS, including schools, universities, employers, immigration authorities and professional bodies. IELTS assesses all of student’s English skills, whether it be reading, writing, listening or speaking. It is designed to reflect how a student will use English at study, at work, and at play, in his or her new life abroad.

There are no specific IELTS 2018 eligibility criteria set by the conducting bodies of IELTS. Any individual who wants to pursue higher studies abroad or seeking an opportunity to work in any one of the foreign countries that require English language proficiency can apply for IELTS 2018. IELTS Academic scores are accepted by universities or institutions. Therefore, a candidate is required to check the eligibility criteria for the institution or organization he/she wishes to be associated with as individual organizations have different requirements.

IELTS Syllabus 2018

IELTS 2018 has two formats:

IELTS Academic

IELTS General

Both the formats come with of four mandatory sections, like listening, reading, writing and speaking. While Listening and Speaking are the same for both the formats, the subject matter of the Reading and Writing components differ depending on which test one opts for.

IELTS 2018 test is designed to reflect the use of English language in our daily lives; at work, at play and study. The results of IELTS 2018 are scored on a unique 9-band scale.

The main purpose of these two versions or formats of IELTS are distinct, hence one should be cautious while registering for the test. A specific version can be selected depending on the institution or organization a student wishes to apply to.

Difference between IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training

Suitable IELTS Test version

Purpose

IELTS Academic

Study at university at an undergraduate or postgraduate level, join a professional organization that requires English language proficiency test scores.

IELTS General Training

Study at below degree level, work or undertake work-related training, and for emigration purpose.

IELTS Test Pattern 2018

The total duration of IELTS test is 2 hours 45 minutes. Listening, Reading and Writing sections are conducted one after the other while speaking test is scheduled on the same day or within seven days before or after the test. While every candidate must take similar Listening and Speaking modules, the Reading and Writing modules differ for the two formats called IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training.

IELTS 2018

The speaking test will be conducted as a one-on-one test to assess candidates’

English fluency

Coherence

Pronunciation

Grammatical accuracy

The responses are recorded by the examiner for analysis and scoring purpose. The candidates are put through a real-life conversation with a real person to get their English conversation skills tested.

Four sections of IELTS 2018 test

IELTS Test Component

Duration

Brief Description

Listening

30 minutes

4 sections, 40 items

Reading

60 minutes

3 sections, 40 items

Writing

60 minutes

2 tasks

Speaking

11–14 minutes

One-on-one conversation divided into three parts

Full form of TOEFL

TOEFL or Test of English as a Foreign Language is a standardized exam to test the spoken and written English abilities of non-native speakers wishing to enroll in English-speaking universities. The test is accepted by many English-speaking academic and professional institutions. TOEFL and IELTS are the two major English-language tests in the English-speaking world.

Educational Testing Service (ETS), a private non-profit organization, designs and administers the TOEFL tests. ETS issues official score reports, sent independently to institutions, for two years following the test.

TOEFL Internet-based test

Since its introduction in late 2005, the TOEFL Internet-based Test (iBT) format has replaced the computer-based tests (CBT) and paper-based tests (PBT). The paper-based testing is still used but in select areas. The TOEFL iBT test has been introduced in phases.

Initially, the demand for test seats was higher than availability, and candidates had to wait for months. It is now possible to take the test within one to four weeks in most countries.

The four-hour test consists of four sections, each measuring one of the basic language skills (while some tasks require integrating multiple skills), and all tasks focus on language used in an academic, higher-education environment. Note-taking is allowed during the TOEFL iBT test. The test cannot be taken more than once every 12 days.

The four sections of the TOEFL exam

Reading

The Reading section consists of questions on 3-5 passages, each approximately 700 words in length. The passages are on academic topics; they are the kind of material that might be found in an undergraduate university textbook. Passages require an understanding of rhetorical functions such as cause-effect, compare-contrast and argumentation. Students answer questions about main ideas, details, inferences, essential information, sentence insertion, vocabulary, rhetorical purpose and overall ideas. New types of questions in the TOEFL iBT test require filling out tables or completing summaries. Prior knowledge of the subject under discussion is not necessary to come to the correct answer.

Listening

The Listening section will consist of questions on six passages, each 3–5 minutes in length. These passages include two student conversations and four academic lectures or discussions. The conversations involve a student and either a professor or a campus service provider. The questions are meant to measure the ability to understand main ideas, important details, implications, relationships between ideas, the organization of information, speaker purpose and speaker attitude.

Speaking

The Speaking section consists of six tasks. Two sections will be independent and four integrated. In the two independent tasks, test-takers have to answer opinion questions on familiar topics. They are evaluated on their ability to speak spontaneously and convey their ideas clearly and coherently.

Writing

Task

Description

Approximate time

Reading

3–5 passages, each containing 12–14 questions

60–80 minutes

Listening

6–9 passages, each containing 5–6 questions

60–90 minutes

Break

Mandatory break

10 minutes

Speaking

6 tasks

20 minutes

Writing

2 tasks

50 minutes

The Writing section measures a test taker’s ability to write in an academic setting and consists of two tasks: one integrated and one independent.

TOEFL Paper-based Test

The TOEFL® paper-based Test (PBT) is available in limited areas. Scores are valid for two years after the test date, and test takers can have their scores sent to institutions or face time.

· Listening (30 – 40 minutes)

The Listening section consists of 3 parts. The first one contains 30 questions about short conversations. The second part has 8 questions about longer conversations. The last part asks 12 questions about lectures or talks.

· Structure and Written Expression (25 minutes)

The Structure and Written Expression section have 15 exercises of completing sentences correctly and 25 exercises of identifying errors.

· Reading Comprehension (55 minutes)

The Reading Comprehension sections have 50 questions about reading passages.

· Writing (30 minutes)

The TOEFL PBT administrations include a writing test called the Test of Written English (TWE). This is one essay question with 250–300 words in average.

Full form of SAT

SAT or ‘Scholastic Assessment Test’ is an entrance exam used by most colleges and universities in the US, Canada, and many other countries to select students for admissions to undergraduate courses. Our well-researched article includes SAT exam syllabus and other tips for successful preparation.

However, it is just one factor in the decision regarding admissions that are provided by qualifying the exam. Schools also consider your

High school GPA

Subject

Duration

Subsections

Questions

Score Range

Math

80 minutes

Calculator allowed for 37 questions

Calculator not allowed for 20 questions

Problem-solving and data analysis

Algebra

Geometry

Arithmetic

200-800

Reading

65 minutes

Total 52 questions

Sentence Completion

Tests understanding of passages from the US and world Literature, History/Social Studies, and Sciences (500-750 words)

200-800 (combined with Writing section)

Writing and Language

35 minutes

Total 44 questions

Tests ‘Expression of Ideas’ and ‘Standard English Conventions’ through passages related to Careers, History/Social Studies, Humanities and Science

All questions from extended prose (400-450 words)

200-800 (combined with Reading section)

Essay (optional)

50 minutes

One 50 minutes optional essay

This section requires students to evaluate an argument through the analysis of evidence

not scored

Total

3 hours (with optional 50 minutes)

154 questions

—

1600

Academic transcript

Letters of recommendations (LoR)

Interviews and personal essays

The best time to take the SAT exam depends on a variety of factors: the schools to which you’re applying, your application deadlines and your personality.

The SAT exam is a standardized test/exam that measures a student’s skills in three core areas: Critical Reading, Math, and Writing. Students in classes 11 and 12 take the SAT test/exam so that they can submit their scores to colleges as part of the college application process.

Examining the SAT Exam Syllabus:

According to the syllabus, the SAT exam takes place in two parts- General Test and Subject Test. Where on one hand Subject-based exam tests your skills on the hold of a specific subject, the general exam is comparatively common of the two and holds the most relevant position for the students aiming to seek education abroad. Here, we will discuss the syllabus of the General SAT exam under the heading of “SAT Syllabus and Exam Format” mentioned below. SAT exam tests the reading/writing, mathematics and the optional-essay section of a student.

SAT Syllabus and Exam Format

Parameters

Current SAT

The Made Over SAT

Total Testing Time

Made Over SAT testing time subject to research

3 hours and 45 minutes

3 hours (plus 50 minutes for the Essay [optional])

Constituents

Critical Reading

Writing

Mathematics

Essay

Evidence-Based Reading and Writing

Reading Test

Writing and Language Test

Math

Essay (optional)

Key Features

Emphasis on general reasoning skills

Emphasis on vocabulary, often in limited contexts

Complex scoring (a point for a correct answer and a deduction for an incorrect answer; blank responses have no impact on scores)

Continued emphasis on reasoning alongside a clearer, stronger focus on the knowledge, skills and understandings most important for college and career readiness and success

Greater emphasis on the meaning of words in extended contexts and on how word choice shapes meaning, tone and impact

Rights-only scoring (a point for a correct answer but no deduction for an incorrect answer; blank responses have no impact on scores)

Essay

Required and given at the beginning of the SAT

25 minutes to write the essay

Tests writing skill; students take a position on a presented issue

Optional and given at the end of the SAT; postsecondary institutions determine whether they will require the Essay for admission

50 minutes to write the essay

Tests reading, analysis and writing skills; students produce a written analysis of a provided source text

Score Reporting

Made over SAT scores subject to research

Scale ranging from 600 to 2400

Scale ranging from 200 to 800 for Critical Reading; 200 to 800 for Mathematics; 200 to 800 for Writing

Essay results scaled to multiple-choice Writing

Scale ranging from 400 to 1600

Scale ranging from 200 to 800 for Evidence-Based Reading and Writing; 200 to 800 for Math; 2 to 8 on each of three traits for Essay